Tried to use a squirrel as a 'natural pruner' on a client's oak in Portland

I was dealing with some deadwood about 30 feet up and joked to the homeowner that a squirrel could probably chew through the smaller twigs faster than I could set a line. He took me seriously and started tossing peanuts up there to attract them, which worked a little too well and we ended up with a dozen angry, territorial squirrels chasing us around the yard. What's the weirdest 'animal interaction' you've had on a job?

2 comments

2 Comments

green.jenny10d ago

People always underestimate how fast a joke can turn into a real problem with animals.

keithf9610d ago

Totally agree, it's scary how quick that happens. Someone does something dumb for a laugh and an animal gets hurt or scared. They never think about the real stress it causes. It shows a real lack of respect for a living thing. That kind of joke isn't funny at all, it's just cruel.